Boston-based cloud video company Brightcove announced Monday that it has expanded its operations into the Middle East with the opening of an office in Dubai.
Dubai will serve as the company's central space for business development and marketing efforts in the Middle East and Northern Africa region. Heading up the newfound hub is Brahim Laraiki, a sales leader who, prior to joining Brightcove, held positions with Orange, Lenovo and Microsoft. Laraiki will work under the direction of Sue Thexton, senior vice president of EMEA.
Why Dubai?
Brightcove already calls a number of major media broadcast organizations in the region clients, including Al Jazeera, My Dubai My City, Abu Dhabi Media and CNBC Africa, according to a release. Additionally, the demand for access to broadcast quality online video in the Middle East is on the rise, parrelleling the increasing access to high-speed Internet and proliferation of smart devices in the area. In fact, a report by analyst firm Frost & Sullivan revealed that time spent watching online video equals time spent watching TV across the Middle East.
With those two aspects in mind, it seems like the city in the desert is looking fertile and ready for Brightcove's new business. Here's to hoping that the company's Middle Eastern post bears a resemblance to its beautiful Boston headquarters.
